When I See You Again

Chapter 12: If Anyone Falls

Emma stood dumbfounded, staring at the spot where Regina had been sitting as the final wisps of her magic faded away as if they'd never been there. Hands firmly on her hips, Emma looked up at the ceiling and growled.

"God dammit, Regina. Where'd you go?"

Jogging across the hall, Emma grabbed her socks, boots and leather jacket and headed down the stairs.

"Henry? Kid? Where are you?"

The boy peeked his head out of the living room where he'd been watching television and waiting patiently for everything to be ok. "Uh, I'm right here. Is... is, uh... you know... is everything ok?"

Emma eyed him for a moment before just asking. "Do you have your memories or what?"

The boy smiled and sprang toward her, locking his arms around her in a hug. "Yes! Do you? Of course you do! This is great! I knew it would work. I told Mom it would." Letting her go, he looked back up the stairs. "Where's Mom?"

"Hell if I know, Kid. She gave me a speech, kissed me and poofed away." Emma sat on the bottom step and set about putting on her boots.

"Poofed? Oh no. What did you do, Ma?" Henry frowned at his mother.

"What did I do? I didn't do anything. One minute I was drinking coffee, the next minute she was kissing me and my memories came back. Why do you assume I did something?" Emma grunted trying to force her foot into a too tightly laced boot.

"Well, I assume that because she poofed. You must have done something to upset her. She was terrified as it was to try for True Love's kiss because she was sure you'd go all weird—" The boy arched a brow, looking for all the world like Regina. "You acted weird, didn't you?"

"No." Emma stood and slipped on her jacket. "I mean... maybe. I... I dunno. I just acted like a person who just got their memories back after a year because someone who they thought hated them confessed to being in love with them. I'd say if I remained conscious I handled it pretty well."

The two of them just stood staring at each other a long moment, considering the situation. Henry broke the silence.

"She told you she loved you?"

"Yeah. She did. And before I could process it all, she just... poofed. And now I don't know where in the hell she is. I need to talk to her before she shuts me out completely. I just don't know where—" Emma stopped abruptly in midsentence. "I think I know where she is. Call your grandparents and let them know I have my memories and then you stay here until I come back, ok?"

"Ok but... Ma! Where are you going?" Henry called after Emma's retreating form as she jogged down the walk toward the street.

"I'm going to get your mother and tell her I love her too."

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Emma stumbled down the stone steps into Regina's underground vault. She had exactly zero doubt that she would find the other woman here.

"Regina?" Her voice echoed in the empty rooms. "Regina? Are you down here?"

She waited two beats but heard nothing in response. She looked in the main chamber, full of Regina's magical elements. She wasn't there. She wandered past rows of hearts and into a chamber where Henry Sr., and Cora were laid to rest. Still no Regina.

Emma frowned. Had she misjudged the brunette so fully? She was certain this is the place she would have gone seeking solace from a supposed rejection. But it was evident she wasn't here after all. Maybe she was in her office? Or in the woods? She could be anywhere really.